Gill box with adjustable delivery rolls



Dec. 24, 1968 J. v. CURRAN 3,417,435

GILL BOX WITH ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY ROLLS Filed May 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheex l INVENTOR fo/m V Curran rra/Mays N. Q www Dec. 24, 1968 J. v. cuRRAN GILL BOX WITH ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY ROLLS Filed May 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY :J/zn Vurran Arro/eA/fys' Dec. 24, 1968 J. v. CURRAN GILL BOX WITH ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY ROLLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25. 1966 INVENTOR. Joh n l/. Cu rra n rmvin United States Patent 3,417,435 GILL BOX WITH ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY ROLLS John V. Curran, Bedford, Ohio, assignor to 'Ehe Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,893 7 Claims. (Cl. 19 129) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to textile apparatus, and particularly relates to textile apparatus which includes a gill box having sliver advancing rolls located at the input and output ends thereof. The sliver advancing rolls at the output end of the apparatus are adjustable toward and away from the gill box. An indicator mechanism is provided for indicating the position of the rolls relative to the gill box.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus which includes a gill box and sliver advancing rolls located at the input and output ends of the gill box, and wherein the rolls at the output end are adjustable toward and away from the gill box to vary the distance between the nip of the rolls at the input and the nip of the rolls at the output, which distance is commonly referred to as the ratch, and including a simple and effective mechanism for manually adjusting the rolls.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus having a gill box and a plurality of rolls positioned at the output of the gill box and wherein the rolls are simultaneously adjustable toward and away from the gill box and wherein an indicator mechanism indicates the position of the rolls and is operable upon movement of the rolls.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus having a gill box and draft rolls at the output end of the gill box and wherein the rolls are supported by support means which is movable toward and away from the gill box upon movement of a lever, and the lever is moved manually on movement of a manually actuatable handle.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein the handle which is actuated manually is connected with a shaft carrying the lever and wherein movement of the handle effects a rotation of the shaft which, in turn, effects oscillation of the lever for effecting movement of the support.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus, as noted in the next preceding object, wherein an indicator needle which is movable along an indicator scale is operatively connected with the shaft so as to move along the scale upon rotation of the shaft.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus having a plurality of sliver feeding rolls carried by a support which is adjustable toward and away from the gill box and an Patented Dec. 24, 1968 ICC .box and wherein the needle is moved along the scale in response to movement of the rolls.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein a manually actuatable handle is connected with a shaft which, in turn, is connected to effect movement of the rolls upon rotation of the shaft and wherein .a mechanical connection is provided between the handle and the needle to effect movement of the needle along the scale in proportion to the movement of the support for the rolls.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specitication and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a textile apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the textile apparatus of FIG. 1, taken approximately along the Section line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the textile apparatus shown in FIG. 1, looking at the textile apparatus of FIG. 1 as indicated by the line 3 3;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the textile apparatus shown in FIG. 3, partially in section, and looking at the apparatus of FIG. 3 approximately as indicated by the line 4 4;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l, taken approximately along the section line 5 5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 7 is an expanded view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. l.

The present invention provides an improved textile apparatus for operating on sliver and which includes a gill box and sliver feed rolls which are located at the input and output ends of the gill box and effect feeding of the sliver. Certain features of the present invention are usable in a variety of different machine environments. However, as representing the preferred embodiment, a textile apparatus 10 is illustrated in the drawings.

The textile apparatus 10 includes a main frame or base 11 which supports a gill box 12, shown schematically in FIG. 1. The gill box 12 is of conventional construction and will not be described in detail in view of the Wellknown construction thereof. The textile apparatus, of course, operates on sliver which is advanced through the gill box 12 and feed rolls 13, 14 are supported by the Support frame 11 in advance of the gill box 12 at the input end thereof. The feed rolls 13, 14 function to advance the sliver.

Delivery or front draft rolls 16, 17 and 18 are located forwardly of the gill box 12 at the output end thereof and are driven at a speed preferably greater than the speed of rotation of the rolls 13, 14 in order to pull the sliver through the gill box and effect a drafting thereof, as is well known. The rolls 16, 17 are substantially the same size as shown in FIG. 1 and define a nip therebetween. A

draft roll 18 is a smaller roll which defines a nip with the roll 16. The sliver which is advanced through the apparatus is combed in the gill box by the faller bars therein, as are well known, in order to align the fibers forming the sliver and is delivered from the apparatus to a suitable balling head or container, not shown, which receives the sliver.

The distance between the nip defined by the rolls 13, 14 and the nip defined by the rolls 16, 17 may be varied depending upon the length of the fibers comprising the sliver being handled by the textile equipment. This distance between the nips of these rolls is commonly referred to as the reach or ratch of the textile machine. The various reasons for adjusting the distance between these rolls are well known, but primarily it is to facilitate the handling of the slivers having different length fibers.

As noted above, the textile apparatus 10 is constructed so as to permit adjustment of the ratch and specifically the rolls 16, 17 and 18 are supported for adjustment toward and away from the gill box 12 and toward and away from the rolls 13, 14 to effect the adjustment. The rolls 16, 17, and 18 are mounted at their opposite ends in supports 20, 21, respectively. The supports 20, 21 carry bearings which support the shafts of the rolls in order to provide for rotation of the rolls relative to the supports 20, 21. The supports 20, 21 are, in turn, secured by suitable fasteners 22, 23 to a support plate 24. The support plate 24 is secured by suitable fasteners 25 to the main frame 11 of the apparatus. The fasteners 25 are in the nature of a nut and bolt which are located in a slot 26 in the plate 24. The fasteners 25, since they do project through slots 26 in the plate 24, if loosened, permit movement of the plate 24 relative to the bolts. In this manner, the fasteners 25, when loosened, allow for movement of the support plate 24 relative to the main frame 11 of the apparatus.

Suitable mechanism is provided and generally designated 30 for effecting movement of the plate 24 and the rolls 16, 17 and 18 supported thereby relative to the gill box 12 and rolls 13, 14 of the textile apparatus. The mechanism 30 for effecting the movement of the plate 24 and, in turn, the movement of the rolls 16, 17, 18 comprises a pair of lever members 31, 32. The lever members 31, 32 carry rolls 33, 34, respectively, on the ends thereof (see FIG. 3). The rolls 33, 34 engage in slots 35, 36, respectively, in the plate 24. The levers 31, 32 are fixedly secured to a shaft 37 at spaced locations and which extends transversely to the direction of movement of the sliver and across the apparatus 10i. The shaft 37 is suitably supported at its opposite ends for rotation relative to the frame of apparatus 10. The shaft 37, upon rotation, of course, effects an oscillatory or a back-andfourth movement of the levers 31, 32 and the rolls carried on the outer ends thereof. Movement of the rolls in a back-and-fourth direction, of course, causes sliding movement of the support plate 24 relative to the base 11, thereby effecting movement of the draft rolls 16, 17, 18 of the apparatus 10, which, of course, effects an adjustment of the ratch as described hereinabove.

The shaft 37 is rotated in opposite directions in order to effect the back-and-forth movement of the levers 31, 32 by manual actuation of a handle 40. The handle 40 has a portion which projects inwardly through a slot, not shown, in the base 11 of the apparatus 10 and is fixedly connected to a block member 41 which, in turn, is xedly connected to the shaft 37. Downward movement of the handle 40, as shown in FIG. 4, effects a counterclockwise rotation of the block 41, as viewed in FIG. 4, and, in turn, a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 37. Movement of the shaft 37 in a counterclockwise direction effects movement of the lever members 31, 32 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, and effects adjustment of the plate 24 and the support for the rolls 16, 17, 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 in FIG.

4. The 'rolls 33, 34 located in the openings 35, 36, respectively, move vertically in the openings when the shaft 37 is rotated.

When the handle 40 is in a down position, it may be moved upwardly manually. Such upward movement effects rotation of the shaft 37 in a clockwise direction, causing the levers 31, 32 likewise to be moved in a clockwise direction and effecting movement of the plate 24 and rolls toward the gill box in a direction opposite the direction of the arrow 42. The adjustment is effected upon loosening of the fasteners 25, and the rolls may be secured in their adjusted position upon securing of the fasteners 25 which clamp the plate 24 to the main frame 11 of the apparatus 10.

The adjustment or movement of the rolls 16, 17, 18 is effected Without requiring adjustment to the drive mechanism for driving the rolls. As shown in FIG. 2, the rolls 16, 17, 18 are driven from a drive shaft 50. The drive shaft 50 fixedly carries a driving gear 51. The driving gear 51 meshes with a driven gear 52 which is keyed to the shaft 53 for the roll 17 and thereby effects a positive drive of the roll 17. The roll 16 is driven by a pressure relationship between the rolls 16 and 17 and has no positive drive thereto. The roll 18 is driven from the gear 52. The gear 52 specifically has internal teeth 55 therein which mesh with a pinion gear 56 carried on the shaft 57 which supports the roll 18. Thus, the roll 18 is positively driven along with the roll 17. Suitable cover plates 58, 59 are secured to the supports 20, 21, respectively, and plate 24 and cover the open ends of the supports 20, 21 in order to provide for access to the bearings supporting the shafts of the rolls and for access to the gears, respectively.

From the above, it should be apparent that the gears 52 and 56 move toward and away from the gill box 12 upon adjustment of the rolls 16, 17, 18. This movement of the gear 52 is effected without interrupting the driving connection between the teeth on the gear 52 and the teeth on the gear 51 which mesh with the teeth on the gear 52. The adjustment is of a nature which effects merely the depth of the meshing of the teeth of these gears without interrupting the driving connection therebetween. Therefore, these gears are arranged so that there is no interruption of the drive to the rolls 16, 17, 18, even though the position of the rolls is adjusted and even though the driven gear 52 moves relative to the driving gear 51.

The textile apparatus 10 also includes an indicating mechanism, generally designated 60, which indicates the position of the rolls 16, 17, 18 relative to the rolls 13, 14, and thereby provides an indication of the length of the ratch for which the apparatus 10 is adjusted. The indicator provides an observer with an indication for determining that the apparatus 10 is properly adjusted. The operator may adjust the ratch to a particular length and can use the indicator in determining that the proper adjustment has been effected.

The indicator mechanism 60 includes a plate 61 having a graduated indicator scale 62 thereon. The plate 61 is secured to the support frame 11 of the apparatus by suitable fasteners in the form of nuts and bolts 63. An indicator needle 64 cooperates with the graduated scale 62 and is movable along the scale on movement of the rolls 16, 17, 18 and indicates the adjusted position of the rolls 16, 17, 18.

The needle 64 is moved along this scale 62 in response to movement of the handle 40 and, specifically, in response to rotation of the block 41 t0 which the handle 40 is connected. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a suitable mechanical connection, generally designated 70 is provided between the block 41 and the needle 64 in order to effect movement of the needle 64 in response to rotation of the block 41.

The mechanical connection 70 includes an elongated fastener member 71 which has a threaded portion 72 which is threaded into a threaded opening in the block 41 spaced from the axis of shaft 37. The fastener member 71 includes a shank portion 73 and an outer head 74. The

mechanical connection 70 also includes a yoke member 75 which has an opening 76 in one side thereof defined by a pair of yoke projections. The opening 76 slidably receives the shank portion 73 of the member 71. The yoke member 75 has a passage 77 therein and a setscrew 78. The passage 77 is adapted to receive the tip 79 of an elongated shaft member 80 which also forms a part of the mechanical connection 70. The tip 79 of the member 80 is received in the opening 77 and is secured therein by the setscrew 78.

The shaft member 80 has an enlarged shaft portion 81 which is received in the bore 82 of a flange or support member 83. The support member 83 has a plurality of openings 84 therein in a flange portion 85 thereof. The openings 84 are adapted to receive bolts which extend through the plate 61 and the support frame 11 of the apparatus in order to secure the support member 83 to the frame.

The outermost end portion 88 of the shaft portion 81 of the member 80 projects through the bore 82 in the support member 83 and through an opening in the support frame 11, and slightly beyond the plate 61. The portion 88 of the member 80 has a threaded opening 90 therein which is adapted to receive the threaded shank of a screw member 91. The screw member 91 extends through an opening in the needle 64 and is threaded into the opening 90 in the shaft 81.

From the above description, it should be apparent that upon movement of the handle 40, the needle 64 is moved along the scale 62 on the plate 61. With the mechanism shown in FIG. 6, downward movement of the handle 40 will effect a clockwise movement of the block 41 which, in turn, effects counterclockwise movement of the yoke member 75 about the axis of shaft 80. This results in the rotation of the shaft member 80 in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the shaft member 80 in a counterclockwise direction effects movement of the needle 64 along the scale 62 on the plate 61 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6. The amount of movement of the needle 64 along the scale 62 depends upon the amount of movement of the block 41. The location and position of the member 71 and its connection to the block 41 is such that a predetermined increment of movement of the block 41 will give a predetermined increment of movement to the needle 64. It should be apparent that movement of the handle 40 in an upward direction will effect movement of the needle in the reverse direction.

From the above, it should be apparent that the apparatus 10 includes a suitable mechanism for adjusting the ratch of the mechanism, that is, the distance between the rolls 13, 14 and the rolls 16, 17 on the opposite ends of the gill box 12. Moreover, the apparatus 10 includes an indicator means 60 which provides an indication as to the position of the rolls and which operates in response to movement of the rolls.

It should be further apparent that a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been made hereinabove, and that certain modifications, changes, and adaptations may be made therein by those skilled in the art to which it relates, and it is intended hereby to cover all such modifications, changes, and adaptations Which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A textile apparatus for handling sliver comprising a gill box having a sliver input end and a sliver output end, a plurality of delivery rolls defining a nip therebetween and positioned adjacent to the output end of said gill box, support means for supporting said rolls for rotation, means for moving said plurality of rolls simultaneously relative to said gill box to vary the distance between the nip of said rolls and said gill box, said means for moving said plurality of rolls comprising a lever member fixedly connected with a shaft and operatively associated with said support means to effect movement of the support means by rotation of the shaft, a manually actuatable handle operatively connected with said shaft to effect rotation of said shaft upon movement of said handle, a block member secured to said shaft for rotation with said shaft, and indicator means -for indicating the position of said rolls and operable upon movement of said rolls, said indicator means including an indicator Scale and an indicator member movable along the scale, and means interconnecting said block member and said indicator member to effect movement of said indicator member a predetermined distance along said scale in response to a predetermined amount of movement of said block member.

2. A textile apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including `a shaft member supporting said indicator member, a yoke member fixedly carried on said shaft member and a member connected between said yoke member and said block to effect rotation of said yoke member and said shaft member upon rotation of said block.

3. A textile apparatus for handling sliver comprising a gill box having a sliver input end and a Sliver output end, a plurality of delivery rolls defining a nip therebetween and positioned immediately adjacent to the output end of said gill box, support means for supporting said rolls for rotation, a support plate carrying said support means, a main frame and means securing said support plate to said main frame and releasable to provide for movement of said support plate relative to said main frame, means for ymoving said support means relative to said gill box to vary the distance between the nip of said rolls and said gill box including a member operatively associated With said support means and said support plate and movable to effect movement of said support means and said support plate relative to said main frame, said member comprising a lever operatively associated with said support plate and fixedly connected with a shaft member, a manually actuatable handle, and means interconnecting said -member and handle for effecting movement of said member upon movement of said handle, said manually actuatable handle including =a second member connected with said shaft member and said handle to effect rotation of said shaft member upon movement of said handle thereby effecting an oscillatory movement of said lever member and movement of said support plate.

4. A textile lapparatus as defined in claim 3 further including an indicator scale secured to said main frame and an indicator member movable along the indicator scale in response to movement of said second member, and wherein said indicator member is supported on a shaft member which is movable to effect movement of said indicator member in response to rotation of said second member.

5. A textile apparatus for handling sliver comprising a gill box having a sliver input end and a sliver output end, sliver feed rolls defining a first nip therebetween at the input end of said gill box, delivery rolls defining a second nip therebetween located =at the output end of said gill box, means for moving at least one of said rolls for varying the distance between said first and second nips including a pivotal lever member associated with said one of said rolls, a main frame, a support plate adjustably secured to said main frame and carrying support -means for said one of said rolls, said support plate having an opening therein receiving the outer end of said lever member, said outer end of said lever member carrying a roll positioned in said opening and movable therein upon rotation of said shaft means, a manual handle, and means interconnecting said handle and said lever member to effect pivotal movement of said lever member upon -movement of said handle.

6. The textile apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means interconnecting said handle and lever member comprises a shaft member fixedly carrying said lever member for rotation therewith and a block member connected with said handle and said shaft member to effect rotation of said shaft member upon movement of said handle.

7. A textile apparatus for handling sliver comprising a gill box having a sliver input end and a sliver output end, sliver feed rolls defining a rst nip therebetween at the input end of said gill box, sliver delivery rolls defining a second nip therebetween at the output end of said gill box, means for moving at least one of said rolls for varying the distance between said rst and second nips including a member associated with said one of said rolls to effect movement thereof upon movement of the member, a -manual handle, a mechanism interconnecting said manual handle and said member to effect movement of said member upon movement of said handle, an indicator scale, an indicator member movable relative to said scale, a shaft supporting said indicator member, and means for 'effecting rotation of said shaft upon movement of said manual handle to eiect movement of said indicator upon said scale, said means for electing rotation of said shaft upon movement of said handle comprising an elongated element operatively connected with said member for movement upon movement of said member, a yoke member tixedly connected to said shaft and having an opening therein slidably receiving a portion of said elongated member and wherein movement of said member effects movement of said elongated member which in turn effects movement of said yoke member and rotation of said shaft member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 98,966 1/1870 Holden 19-129 241,851 5/1881 Essex et al. 19--261 1,189,528 7/1916 Bennett 19-261 2,597,278 5/ 1952 Arundale et al. 19-261 XR 2,621,371 12/1952 Berker 19-129 2,728,111 12/ 1955 Werth et al 19-260 FOREIGN PATENTS 940,385 10/ 1963 Great Britain.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 19-261 

